Masked looters ransack Paris shops as nationwide protests turn violent

On October 18, Paris witnessed widespread looting as nationwide protests against the rising cost of living descended into violence, with masked individuals ransacking stores across the city.

The unrest occurred amid larger demonstrations attended by hundreds of thousands, highlighting political instability ahead of the presidential election.

French officials condemned the violence, noting 1,200 arrests and injuries to 150 officers, while emphasizing the distinction between the right to protest and the unacceptable nature of destructive actions.

Amid the chaos, impacted citizens and observers expressed understanding of the underlying frustrations, albeit questioning the efficacy of such violent measures.

PARIS, Oct 18 — Smashing shop windows and snatching boxes of goods, looters in Paris poured into stores across the capital yesterday facing no resistance from authorities as nationwide protests degenerated into violence.

Crowds of masked men wearing black hoodies yanked at metal store shutters until they gave way, clearing shelves of cigarettes, sunglasses, clothes, jewellery and food.

The violence erupted as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered across the country to denounce the cost of living, following weeks of student protests and stoking political uncertainty six months before France’s presidential election.

AFP journalists saw looters emerging from a supermarket carrying bags stuffed with cakes, fruit juice and alcohol.

From a small jewellery shop across the street, they took antique clocks. On a street corner, entire display racks of sunglasses vanished.

Inside the shops, they searched for the cash register, smashing it onto the floor, sometimes only to discover it was empty.

Perched on a pavement terrace with a colleague, a 38-year-old art teacher who gave her name as Alma said she had “never seen anything like it”.

The pair, who had joined an unsuccessful march earlier in the day to reach the French president’s residence, the Elysée Palace, said nonetheless that they “understand” the revolt.

The violence began on the sidelines of marches in the capital and other cities that the Interior Ministry said were attended by 550,000 people.

The CGT union, which took part, said 800,000 people participated.

Police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who threw projectiles and aimed fireworks.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who slammed the “violence of extreme intensity”, said that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers hurt.

Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said whole streets “have been devastated” in the capital, making a distinction between the “fundamental” right to protest and “unacceptable” violence.

“I understand why people might be upset, but I think damaging property is fine, as long as we don’t physically harm anyone,” Alma said.

Restaurants, hotels and residential buildings have mostly been spared, prompting surreal scenes of Parisians enjoying their usual Saturday lunch with friends while crowds wreaked havoc outside.

Locals watched the scenes unfold from the safety of their apartments.

“What a sight,” said Jules, a 29-year-old civil servant.

“They must have some pretty deep anger. They’re a part of society who doesn’t feel integrated.”

While he agreed with the right to protest, he said the looters were “undermining their own goals”.

“Just look at the state of the street,” he told AFP.

Near the iconic Place de la République in central Paris, broken glass and debris littered the roads, as a pile of burning bicycles belched out thick smoke.

Law enforcement was absent from the area, having clashed with protesters there earlier in the day. — AFP

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10 月 18 日，巴黎发生大规模抢劫事件，全国范围内的抗议活动因生活成本上涨而演变为暴力事件，蒙面人员在全市范围内洗劫商店。

骚乱发生在数十万人参加的大规模示威游行期间，凸显了总统选举前的政治不稳定。

法国官员谴责了暴力事件，指出有 1200 人被捕，150 名警员受伤，同时强调了抗议的权利与破坏性行为的不可接受性之间的区别。

在混乱之中，受影响的市民和观察人士对民众的沮丧情绪表示理解，尽管他们质疑这种暴力措施的有效性。

巴黎，10 月 18 日——昨天，在全国范围内的抗议活动演变成暴力事件之际，巴黎的暴徒涌入首都各地的商店，砸碎商店橱窗，抢夺成箱的商品，而当局却没有进行任何抵抗。

一群戴着面具、身穿黑色连帽衫的男子猛拉商店的金属卷帘门，直到卷帘门打开，货架上的香烟、太阳镜、衣服、珠宝和食品被洗劫一空。

在法国总统大选前六个月，学生抗议活动持续数周，加剧了政治不确定性，随后数十万示威者聚集在全国各地，谴责生活成本高昂，暴力事件爆发。

法新社记者看到，一些抢劫者从超市里出来，手里提着装满蛋糕、果汁和酒的袋子。

他们从街对面一家小珠宝店偷走了古董钟表。街角一排排太阳镜货架也全部不翼而飞。

他们在商店里寻找收银机，将其摔在地上，有时却发现里面空空如也。

一位名叫阿尔玛的38岁美术老师和一位同事坐在人行道露台上，她说她“从未见过这样的景象”。

这对夫妇当天早些时候参加了一场前往法国总统府爱丽舍宫的游行，但游行最终失败。尽管如此，他们表示“理解”这场起义。

暴力事件始于首都和其他城市的游行队伍中，内政部称有 55 万人参加了这些游行。

参与此次活动的CGT工会表示，共有80万人参加了活动。

警方对投掷物品和燃放烟花的示威者使用了催泪瓦斯和水炮。

法国总理塞巴斯蒂安·勒科尔努谴责了“极其严重的暴力事件”，并表示已有 1200 人被捕，150 名警察受伤。

巴黎市长埃马纽埃尔·格雷戈尔表示，首都的整条街道“已被摧毁”，他区分了抗议的“基本”权利和“不可接受的”暴力行为。

“我理解人们为什么会感到不安，但我认为只要不伤害任何人，损坏财物是可以接受的，”阿尔玛说。

餐馆、酒店和住宅楼大多幸免于难，导致出现了超现实的景象：巴黎人像往常一样与朋友们享用周六午餐，而外面却人山人海，一片混乱。

当地居民躲在公寓里，安全地观看了事态发展。

“真是壮观的景象，”29岁的公务员朱尔斯说道。

“他们一定内心深处充满了愤怒。他们是社会中感觉被排斥的一部分人。”

他虽然同意人们有抗议的权利，但他表示，抢劫者“正在破坏他们自己的目标”。

“看看这条街的状况就知道了，”他告诉法新社。

在巴黎市中心标志性的共和国广场附近，碎玻璃和碎片散落在道路上，一堆燃烧的自行车冒出滚滚浓烟。

执法人员并未出现在该地区，此前他们曾与抗议者发生冲突。——法新社

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